No DD? Piscataquis sheriffs to offer rides on New Year’s

DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — You’ve partied too much in Piscataquis County on New Year’s Eve and you have no ride home.

Whom do you call? The Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department at 564-3304.

Just as it has done has for many years, the sheriff’s department is once again offering free rides to residents who have driven to parties and imbibed too much to drive home.

“As a last resort, if people really need to get home, they should call the sheriff’s department and we will make sure that they get home safely,” Piscataquis County Sheriff John Goggin said this week.

While the department had no takers last year, two residents took advantage of the free ride the year before. The whole emphasis behind the assist is to make the roadways safer, according to Goggin.

“We’re not prohibitionists and we’re not trying to discourage people from having a good time celebrating the New Year in, but if people are going to party, we encourage them to have a designated driver beforehand,” Goggin said.

If that’s not an option, Goggin said party hosts should take the keys away from guests who are intoxicated and provide them a ride home.

Goggin said the county and local law enforcement will be out doing extra patrols on New Year’s Eve looking for people who are intoxicated. In addition, there will be scattered roadblocks around the county.

“What we will be looking for are the problem drinkers and alcoholics that just can’t help themselves,” he said.

For the most part, Goggin said, New Year’s Eve hasn’t been a big problem for law enforcement because most people police themselves.

“We’ve luckily been accident-free,” Goggin said. “We just want everyone to have a safe and happy New Year.”